MANILA, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat yesterday urged those who see any tourist breaking environmental laws to report it to authorities.
A video that went viral on Monday showed a Chinese tourist who let her child defecate along the shores of newly rehabilitated Boracay Island. Another woman was seen in the video burying the child’s soiled underwear.
Puyat said the incident is wrong, regardless of the nationality of those involved. She then asked anyone to readily call the attention of the authorities so they can deal with it.
“If you see (similar incidents), please report it to authorities, to police,” Puyat said.
“We encourage stakeholders to report (such incidents) to report it to authorities, regardless of nationality,” she added.
She said it “could have been anybody.”
Municipal Ordinance No. 311, series of 2012, prohibits littering, urinating, defacating, spitting, vandalizing and dumping trash in public places.
Violators will face imprisonment, paying of fine, or both.